Celeron 2981U vs Core i3-330M
Celeron 2981U
Core i3-330M
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Celeron 2981U is positioned at rank 426 and the Core i3-330M is on rank 276, so the Core i3-330M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2981U
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-330M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 2981U | Core i3-330M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($137) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 2981U | Core i3-330M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($137) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Celeron 2981U and Core i3-330M
Celeron 2981U
The Celeron 2981U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,036 points. Launch price was $69.
Core i3-330M
The Core i3-330M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 0.13 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,032 points. Launch price was $49.
Processing Power
The Celeron 2981U packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-330M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 2981U versus 0.13 GHz on the Core i3-330M — a 169.9% clock advantage for the Celeron 2981U (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.13 GHz). The Celeron 2981U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-330M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2981U scores 1,036 against the Core i3-330M's 1,032 — a 0.4% lead for the Celeron 2981U. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron 2981U vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-330M.
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | Core i3-330M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz+1131% | 0.13 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.13 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,036 | 1,032 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 317 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 689 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 2981U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-330M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3L-1600 memory speed. The Celeron 2981U supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Celeron 2981U) vs 16 (Core i3-330M) — the Core i3-330M offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2981U) and HM55,PM55,QM57 (Core i3-330M).
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | Core i3-330M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron 2981U) vs VT-x / EPT (Core i3-330M). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron 2981U) and Intel HD Graphics (Arrandale) (Core i3-330M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2981U targets Budget, Core i3-330M targets Legacy Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2981U rivals Pentium 2117U; Core i3-330M rivals AMD Athlon II P320.
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | Core i3-330M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Haswell) | Intel HD Graphics (Arrandale) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x / EPT |
| Target Use | Budget | Legacy Budget |
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